Tag: 4G LTE

US Cellular customers finally has a reason to cheer. US Cellular recently announced that the company will be launching the much-awaited 4G LTE network next month. The initial rollout of 4G LTE includes select cities in Iowa, Wisconsin, Maine, North Carolina, Texas and Oklahoma. US Cellular is the first wireless carrier to offer 4G LTE in several of these markets. The company also announced a couple of 4G LTE devices including the new Samsung Galaxy S Aviator as well as the popular Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet.

“With 4G LTE speeds, you can quickly get what you want when you need it,” said Mary N. Dillon, president and CEO of U.S. Cellular. “This 4G LTE network builds upon our industry-leading network satisfaction and is the only one that comes with a valuable rewards program and other unique benefits like Overage Protection and Battery Swap that make our customers the happiest in wireless.”

US Cellular will first launch the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in March, followed by the Samsung Galaxy S Aviator in April. The price of both the devices will be announced later. US Cellular will also announce the next wave of 4G LTE market later this month.

Samsung has just sent out emails to all bloggers out there confirming that the Galaxy Note will be landing on AT&T’s network on Feb 19th. The pre-orders for the handset will begin from 5th Feb itself, and they will be shipped by 17th of February.

Samsung had announced the AT&T variant of the Galaxy Note at CES earlier this month. The AT&T variant of the Note is different from its European sibling in quite a few ways. Externally, the AT&T version comes with the four-usual Android keys while the European version comes with a physical Home button surrounded by two capacitive keys.

The biggest change in the AT&T variant of the Note is internally though. It comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon S3 dual-core processor, instead of the beast Exynos 4210 SoC found on the European variant. The screen, a 5.3-inch HD Super AMOLED with 1280×800 resolution, the S-Pen, and other connectivity features all remain the same though. The Note will also supports AT&T’s ‘true’ 4G LTE network, in areas where the carrier has already deployed the service.

The Galaxy Note will set users back by $299.99 on a 2-year contract with AT&T. Interested readers can find more information about the Galaxy Note here.

Samsung had announced the Galaxy Tab 7.7 quite a few months ago for the International market. Today, the company has outed the same model for the Verizon’s network.

For the unknown, the Galaxy Tab 7.7 comes with a 7.7-inch Super-AMOLED Plus screen with WXGA (1280×800) resolution. This is technically the biggest Super-AMOLED Plus screen Samsung is currently able to produce. Internally, the Tab 7.7 is powered by a blazing fast 1.4GHz Exynos 4210 SoC, an ARM Mali-400 MP GPU, which is arguably one of the fastest SoCs used in Android devices. All the usual stuffs like 1GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, SD card slot, a 3MP rear camera with an LED flash, a 2MP front camera, 1080p HD video playback and recording capability, LTE support and a slim-waistline of 7.9mm.

Sadly, the Tab 7.7 will come with Android 3.2 Honeycomb along with Sammy’s TouchWIZ UI running on top of it. Since the tablet will be heading to Verizon, the carrier will make sure to install as much bloatware on the handset possible, and will price it insanely high as well.

Along with the Galaxy Note, AT&T also announced Sony Ericsson’s first ever 4G LTE handset, the Xperia Ion. The Ion is also the first dual-core touting phone from the Japanese handset manufacturer.

The Xperia Ion comes with a 4.6-inch HD Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA Engine with a 720p (1280×720) resolution. Internally, the handset is powered by the dual-core Snapdragon S3 processor from Qualcomm which is clocked at 1.5GHz, and is accompanied by an Adreno 220 GPU.

“With Xperia ion, we’re bringing together several firsts that will take users beyond the smartphone,” said Paul Hamnett, President, Sony Ericsson North America. “Designed to deliver a seamless experience across the multiple screens we use to play, watch, listen, and share, Xperia ion is the gateway to entertainment when and – most importantly – where you want it.”

At the back of the Ion is a whopping 12MP camera with Exmor R sensor, which is insanely fast as well. Sony states that the camera foes from standby mode to first run in just 1.5 seconds. There is a front-facing camera on the handset as well. Both the front facing camera and the camera at the back are capable of recording videos in HD resolution.

The Xperia Ion is also a PlayStation certified phone, which gives users early access to some high-quality games specially optimized for their handset. The handset will run on Android 2.3 Gingerbread with SE’s Timescape UX on top of it, and will get the Ice Cream Sandwich update sooner than later. Like all other handsets announced by AT&T, the carrier did not announce as to when and how much the Ion will cost.

Verizon Wireless Chief Marketing Officer, Marni Walden, while speaking to CNET, said that Windows Phone needs to support LTE in order to compete. She said that they have communicated to Microsoft that LTE is critical for Verizon Wireless and that they need to see a timeline, if Microsoft expects them to continue to represent Windows Phone.

Ouch! This is the first time Verizon Wireless has come out and pointed at a specific problem they have in carrying more Windows Phone devices. Currently, the only Windows Phone they carry is the HTC Trophy, which is a first generation device, released a few months after the OS supported CDMA. There have been no announcements about a Mango device coming to Verizon Wireless.

The stakes are high for Microsoft (and related, for Nokia especially, in its return to the US market). Verizon Wireless is the largest mobile network in the US at 107.7 million subscribers. At the same time, due to AT&T’s initial exclusivity on the iPhone in the US, Verizon ended up becoming an Android champion. They started a huge marketing campaign around their trademark Droidand became a close partner of Google. Meanwhile, iPhone is now also available on Verizon network and as a result they now have arguably the best portfolio of smartphones in the US. Windows Phone clearly has an uphill battle to get the carrier’s attention. Getting cut out of Verizon Wireless will take half the addressable US market away from Microsoft.

In a lot of ways, what Verizon Wireless is asking makes sense. On one hand, they carry the juggernaut that is the iPhone, and on the other hand, they have a slew of Android devices which come in various form factors, with a variety of hardware differentiators and at all kinds of price points. Their marketing message for some time and definitely for the holiday season is their network which is the only one with real4G (LTE). For the typical (high-end) smartphone price of $200 with a 2-year contract, they cannot offer a 3G Windows Phone when most Android devices are 4G-enabled. Also of course, 4G data plans do offer additional revenue to Verizon Wireless.

Like it or not, Microsoft is going to have to compete with Android from a sales and marketing strategy perspective, rather than the iPhone. There is no single Windows Phonelike the iPhone or even the Nexus line of Android phones. Windows Phone is a licensed OS and as a result, there are going to be multiple OEMs making similar phones and multiple carriers carrying them. In order to differentiate, and in this case in order to even participate, Microsoft and its partners will be forced to play the speeds-and-feeds game and keep bumping up the phone features. This is somewhat the opposite of how Microsoft has set up Windows Phone with its strict chassis specification and also how they have set their update schedule to be one big update a year interspersed with smaller updates in between.

Instead of having customers focus on the elegance of the OS and its ability to run well even on previous generation hardware, Microsoft is being forced by Verizon Wireless to play the Android game and keep focusing on specification numbers. Something will have to give because Microsoft simply cannot afford to get left out of the Verizon Wireless footprint. Perhaps more chassis specifications? More aggressive updates to the OS? Maybe we will see a more aggressive schedule after the first round of Nokia devices come into the market and the platform gains a reasonable installed base? Any/all of this better happen because Verizon Wireless customers deserve the choice of Windows Phone

Motorola and Verizon just announced the Droid Xyboard tablets, which are basically the U.S version of the recently unveiled XOOM 2 and the XOOM 2 Media Edition.

The 10.1-inch XOOM 2 will be known as the Droid Xyboard 10.1, while its smaller variant, the XOOM 2 Media Edition will be known as the Droid Xyboard 8.2. Both the tablets are powered by the old and under-powered Nvidia’s Tegra 2 processor and come with 1GB of RAM on-board. The Xyboard tablets sport a IPS display panel for an improved image quality. Other than this, both the tablets have a 5MP camera with Auto-Focus and LED flash at their back, and a 1.3MP HD camera in the front.

Unlike the bulky proportions of the original XOOM, the Droid Xyboard tablets are slimmer and lighter. Outside, the tablets are made with magnesium-reinforced material along with aluminum housing. The tablets will also come with Dijit, an app which will double their tablets as a universal remote. They will also support Verizon’s blazing fast 4G LTE network. Oh, both the Xyboards also support GSM networks but the capability has been turned off by Motorola and Verizon at the firmware level.

The 10.1-inch and the 8.2-inch Xyboard will come with Android 3.2 Honeycomb on-board, but will get the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update sometime early next year. Both the tablets will hit the Verizon retail stores sometime this month. The 16GB 10.1-inch Xyboard will cost $529.99, while the 32GB and 64GB variants will cost $629.99 and $729.99, respectively. The smaller 8.2-inch Xyboard will be available for $429.99 and $529.99 for the 16GB and 32GB variants. These prices include a two-year contract with Verizon as well. No wonder the iPad dominates the tablet market. Until these Android manufacturers price their tablets properly, there is no way they can sell them in large numbers.

Verizon and Motorola, you guys seriously did not get a better name for these tablets other than Xyboard? Seriously?

Samsung and AT&T have just announced via a press-release that both the companies will be joining hands to bring the Galaxy Tab 8.9 to the United States.

As its name suggests, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 sports an 8.9-inch HD screen, and is a mere 8.6mm thin. The tablet is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processor clocked at 1.5Ghz, along with an Adreno 220 GPU. The tablet also packs in 1GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage.

This 8.9-inch tablet sports a 3.2mP camera at its rear with an LED flash, and a 2MP camera in the front. The tablet runs on Android 3.2 Honeycomb with Sammy’s TouchWIZ UI on top of it. All the usual connectivity features are also present, including support for AT&T’s recently released 4G LTE network and its ‘fake’ 4G network – HSPA+ – as well.

The Galaxy Tab 8.9 will burn a hole of $479.99 through its future-owners pocket, which will be accompanied by a two-year commitment. Early Tab 8.9 owners will also get a Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket free of cost with the tablet, with a separate two-year contract. The tablet will be available at all retail stores and online stores beginning from November 20th.

AT&T will also expand its 4G LTE coverage to six new markets on November 20th including Charlotte, Indianapolis, Kansas city, Las Vegas, Oklahoma City and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The cheapest iPad costs $499 without any sort of contract and offers a bigger screen, and a faster processor and GPU combo, and not to mention the fact that more apps are available for it. Compared to all this, the Galaxy Tab costs $479.99 with a two-year contract, offers a smaller screen, inferior processor+GPU combo, hardly has much apps available for it. Its high time Android tablet manufacturers get their pricing right, else the iPad will continue to rule the tablet market.

Along with the HTC Vivid, AT&T also announced a 4G LTE capable version of the Galaxy S II, the Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket. The Skyrocket is the second phone to hit the AT&T’s network, which will supports the company’s 4G LTE network.

The Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket comes with a 4.5-inches of Super-AMOLED Plus goodness with WVGA (480×800) resolution. The handset comes with 1GB of RAM, 16GB of internal memory, and is powered by a 1.5GHz Exynos processor, along with an ARM Mali400-MP GPU.

At the back of the Skyrocket is an 8MP camera with an LED flash, along with a 2MP camera in the front. The handset is also capable of recording videos in Full HD (1080p) resolution.

Other key features of the Skyrock include a microSD card slot, GPS with A-GPS, 4G LTE and HSPA+ radios, and a bunch of sensors. The handset runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread, with TouchWIZ UI on top of it.

Like the HTC Vivid, the Galaxy S II Skyrocket will be available from 6th of November. AT&T will also expand its 4G LTE network to four new markets, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, House and San Antonia, on the same day. The handset will cost $250 on a two-year contract.

Verizon and Motorola have finally announced that owners of the first ever Android Honeycomb powered tablet, the XOOM, can get their much-awaited 4G LTE upgrade from tomorrow.

When Motorola initially announced XOOM at the beginning of this year, the company promised free 4G LTE update for the tablet within 90 days of its availability. While the update is still free, it’s been more than 5 months (150days) since the XOOM was released to the public.

Motorola promises to ship back the XOOM to its original owner within six days, with 4G LTE modem installed. The company also suggests users to back up the data on their tablet, before shipping it to them.

XOOM owners, who will be among the early upgraders, will get a Standard dock for their tablet for free. However, this offer is valid only till stock last, so XOOM owners better hurry up. XOOM owners will also be able to keep their current existing data plan, post the upgrade.

For users who still have not subscribed to a data plan, they will three options 30$ for 2GB free monthly data, 50$ for 5GB free data, and a whopping $80 for a paltry 10GB of free monthly data.

XOOM owners can head over to this link to begin the 4G LTE upgrade process.

The Motorola Droid Bionic is one of the most anticipated phones of this year. The phone was announced back at CES, but was later postponed to the 2nd half of 2011, for some unknown reason. The Droid Bionic will be the first dual-core processor powered phone to support Verizon’s blazing fast 4G LTE network.

Now, it looks like Motorola is already working on another phone, which trumps the Bionic in every aspect. The Droid HD will presumably come with HD (1280×720) resolution on 4.5-inch of touch-screen real estate. In all probability, the Droid HD will be powered by the dual-core OMAP4430 processor, which is also found in the Droid 3, and the upcoming Droid Bionic. Unlike the Droid 3 though, the HD will come with an ample 1GB of RAM.

However, where the Droid HD will trump the Droid Bionic is in terms of thinness. The handset is slim, insanely thin, and I am talking about the iPhone 4 and Galaxy S II level thinness here. Sadly, all this thinness comes from the fact that the HD will not be a 4G LTE capable phone. It will be a world phone, nonetheless.

The usual array of ports including a mini-HDMI port, along with the usual bunch of sensors and antennas are also present. There is also an 8MP camera at the back of the HD, which like its name, is capable of shooting videos in full HD resolution. The HD will also come with a beefy internal battery. You got to sacrifice something for all that kind of slimness!